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"The Old Clay Patch"

An Appeal

In 1910 there appeared a little book of verse bearing the above title. It contained the best that students of this College had contributed to "Spike" or elsewhere in the way of verse, and in its pages was to be found some of the finest work in that sphere that has been produced by New Zealand writers. Again, in 1920, a second edition, including verse published in the interim, appeared, and it is rather a slur on both students and executives that there still remains of this edition a considerable surplus and that the last balance-sheet discloses a depreciation write-off consequent on the prolonged retention of that surplus.

I wonder how many of our present students—particularly those new to the College—know what that volume contains and what it represents. Seemingly, not many. There has been a discussion of late as to the existence of a New Zealand literature and a rather hesitating admission that such a thing exists, but here we have proof that students of our own College have contributed not a little to a very real literary effort.

Now that 1930 is here, perhaps it is not too much to hope that students may take sufficient interest in their pursuit of that "liberal education" offered by the University to make possible the publication of a third edition, bringing the anthology up to date. Since 1920 there has appeared in "Spike" a quite considerable number of excellent contributions in verse and there should be no student unwilling to make acquaintance with the best productions of this College. Perhaps the previous lack of interest has been because no effort has been made to acquaint students with the fact that there has been such a publication. The Students' Association, "Spike" and the professors all seem to have had no idea of their responsibility in this direction. Certainly, mention of the fact in English classes would have had some result, and it is not easy to understand why there should have been almost a conspiracy of silence on the part of those who should have been most earnest in endeavour to foster interest in the literary efforts both of past and present students.

It is not too late to repair the omission. It has been thought fit to set up a committee to gather a sheaf of College songs. Surely an effort should first be made to gather once again between the covers of a book the larger harvest of College literary achievement. I do not suggest that the same Committee act for both—that would be profanation of the task—but do most earnestly urge that this year see "The Old Clay Patch" reissued, and, moreover, in appropriate form. The present cardboard cover should certainly be replaced by binding worthier of the high endeavour that prompted the penning of the verses.

—H.R.B.